Notes about Tagging on Postage Stamps

Detecting modern varieties

Stamp Tagging is one of the most intriguing parts of modern philately. With a simple UV detecting device you can uncover rare varieties of otherwise common stamps, significantly increasing the value of your collection.

HISTORY OF TAGGING

In the early days of US mail, letters were stamped and sorted by hand. This was of course an extremely time-consuming process.

By the early 1960s the Post Office Department (now called the USPS) began looking for a better way to process the mail. The machines first needed to find the stamps on the letters before they could be processed automatically.

Tagging the stamps with phosphorescent coating allows them to be easily seen under shortwave UV light. Ultraviolet or UV is broken down into different divisions. Shortwave is 200-300 nm (nanometers) and longwave is 350-400 nm.

If you've ever seen a black light poster then you can visualize how bright the colors stand out. A standard black light won't show tagging, but the concept is the same.

When tagging (zinc-orthosilicate) is exposed to strong shortwave UV light, the stamps glow a bright color that ranges from yellow-green to bluish green.

Without the UV light the taggant is clear and virtually invisible to the to our eyes.

Once the machines were able to locate the tagged stamps, the letters could be automatically turned (faced) and then cancelled.

Tagged stamps were first introduced to the public at Dayton Ohio in 1963. This has saved the government big bucks and uncounted labor hours over previous methods of sorting and processing by hand.

This is a modern machine called a culler-facer-canceller that is used to perform all of the jobs for us!

OK, here's the big secret: The machines don't actually "read" the value on the stamp; they merely detect the stamp, position it, and cancel it.

There has been some controversy in the past over folks purposely mailing letters with not enough postage and getting away with it since the machines don't know that exact amount affixed.

You should always properly frank your letters with full postage.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAGGING

There are 3 main ways that tagging is applied and then variations among the types. Some issues like Johns Hopkins of the Great Americans Series have 5 different combinations of tagging and paper types.

OVERALL TAGGING (OT)

The first tagging method ever used is called overall tagging. Liquid taggant was spread onto a rubber mat or cylinder and then transferred to the surface of the stamp. Johns Hopkins (2194b) above right is a visual example. Left is the same stamp under normal light or the appearance of an untagged stamp under UV. In most cases the taggant is "over all" of the stamp and the appearance is grainy.

The flexible tagging mat sizes don't always completely cover the sheets of stamps and result in untagged margins. This is one easy way to tell it apart from prephosphored tagging, which always completely covers all stamps and margins. Overall tagging is still used today.

Overall tagging is a clear coating that is applied to stamps after the design has been printed, but usually before perforation. This is done so that the liquid tagging doesn't flow through the perf holes onto the backs of the stamps.

When viewing under UV, you are looking through the haze of the fluorescence to see the stamp design below. This tints the design green and often masks the true colors.

The surface taggant will actually rub off onto your fingers fairly easily.

BLOCK TAGGING (BT)

The second main type called Block tagging occurs when it is applied to the surface of the stamp in a block shape. Johns Hopkins (2194) above shows block tagging. The sizes of the blocks vary greatly with each printing. Certain catalogue numbers are assigned by the size of the block alone.  Gilbreth and Laubach at the top show small and large blocks.

The rubber mats also wear over time and there are unlimited varieties caused by this wearing. These include flaking, cracking and breaks. At times the impressions of stamps are actually worn into the mat. The stamps are then tagged with a ghostly transfer image of the design.

PREPHOSPHORED TAGGING (PP)

This is the third main method of modern tagging. The taggant is added to the raw paper before the vignette is printed. The final appearance of prephosphored tagging depends upon the coating that already exists on the paper.

Prephosphored coated stamps have a very solid appearance under UV like Hopkins (2194d) above. The coated paper allows the taggant to attach evenly to the surface of the smooth paper. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between Overall tagged and Prephosphored tagged stamps. Since prephosphored stamps have the design printed over the tagging, the stamp design usually appears much bolder in comparison to overall tagging. (With OT the design is under the tagging).

Prephosphored uncoated stamps have a mottled or grainy appearance under UV. The paper is uncoated so the taggant soaks into the paper and pools in the fibers in an uneven way. The result is an often fainter tagging, which is occasionally bluish under UV by comparison like Hopkins (2194e with below.

AIRMAILS

U.S. Airmails from C59 to C90 glow an orange-red color (calcium silicate) under shortwave UV (instead of green) and are overall tagged! Airs from C91-now glow green.

PREPHOSPHORED INK

Stamps can also be printed with the phosphorescence added directly to the printing ink. The result is a stamp that glows only in certain parts of the stamp design where that ink is applied.

Taggant can also be applied in a band or a stripe that runs across several stamps.

At times more than one of these methods are combined!

UNTAGGED ERRORS

Under shortwave UV light, they show no reflective glow.  They occur accidentally when tagging is missing or only partially applied during printing.  They are considered an error of missing color. Finding an untagged error is thrilling. Often they are literally hidden in plain sight!

Modern stamps denominated 10c and under are intentionally untagged. This is done to prevent the low-values from triggering the canceling equipment.

Precancels and service inscribed stamps are not usually tagged because they are routed differently and not cancelled.

Sometimes the tagging coincides with specific types of paper and the tagging type can be determined without even using a UV lamp by simply turning the stamp over and inspecting the gum!

(But surely that trick is a topic for another guide)

Ready to buy a lamp and get started?

ULTRAVIOLET LAMPS

*All iHobb.com UV Lamps are specific for use by stamp collectors.*

To see tagging you need a shortwave UV lamp. Most shortwave UV lamps today emit at 254 nm and with the proper filter will reveal stamp tagging.

There are basically 2 types of UV stamp lamps -plug-ins (left above) and portables (above right).  In my opinion Raytech Industries make the best tagging lamps for stamps. My plug-in is time tested over 30 years and in use daily. It is powerful and durable and I see everything!

Safe has a good battery operated model for the road.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages of a plug in lamp are that the powerful bulb and filters allow you to clearly see all taggant. Many counties other that USA use tagging and a good lamp will show all of the variety.

Often these heavy-duty lamps have a switch or slide that will allow you to also see long wave UV 350-400 nm.   Long wave fluorescence concerns ink and paper brighteners and is different from tagging but useful to specialists (lamps are often 366 nm).

Portables or battery-operated lamps are good for shows and times when you don't have electrical access.

Battery operated portable lamps are inexpensive.

DISADVANTAGES

NEVER STARE DIRECTLY AT THE BULB!

Plug-ins get hot and continued long-term exposure to the light can damage your eyes. The light can cause a "sunburn" type irritation. Wearing glasses can reduce the effects. The lamps are typically safe when handled properly.

Plug-ins need to be plugged in and access isn't always available at stamp shows, etc. They are bulky and heavy if you don't have a UV stand to hold the light. They are expensive.

Portables are unfiltered and weak in comparison. Often it is difficult to tell the more subtle differences. Portable lamps can emit so much white light that faint tagging is lost in the glare.

Philalux - UV Longwave and Shortwave Lamp with Built-in Magnifiers
The universal detection lamp to examine stamps, coins, currency, documents, minerals, artwork, forgeries, repairs, etc. This is a complete longwave, shortwave, and magnification desktop unit in a sturdy black 2-part housing.

Upper part:

5-3/8" x 2-5/8" aspherical lens with 3X magnification and a 7/8" diameter aspherical lens with 12X magnification. Distortion free.

7 Watt ultraviolet longwave tube (365nm) to identify fluorescent paper (tagging) on stamps of USA, Canada, China, France, Germany, Mexico, etc. as well as inks, forgeries, repairs, etc. Check for authenticity of coins, banknotes, certificates, minerals, artwork, etc.

2 Watt shortwave tube (266nm) with filter for checking phosphor and overall tagging on stamps of USA, Canada, Israel, Great Britain, etc. Also for difficult tagged stamps, like block and overall tagging on US stamps or phosphor bands of Great Britain.

Lower part:

4 Watt white fluorescent tube to examine paper varieties, colors, watermarks, etc. The size of the lighted area is 5" x 3".

Electronic magnet to check magnetic area of currency.

Size of Philalux lamp: 7-1/4" x 5-1/4" x 5" high
Item No. SA9865SP

Portable Shortwave Lamp
Shortwave Lamp (wavelength 254 nm) For checking tagging on stamps of USA, Canada, Israel, Great Britain, etc. (to identify difficult tagged stamps, like block and overall tagging on US stamps or Phosphor Bands of Great Britain we recommend the Snap on Filter No. 1038-A or see No. 1030-A).
Nylon strap is attached for easy carrying. Operates on 4 "AA" batteries (included). Supplied with 4 Watt ultraviolet lamp. The wavelength is 254 nm (nanometers). Size: 6-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 7/8" high
Item No. 1038

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